For the Columbus Blue Jackets, this season was unlike any other. “It’s a lot of stuff. Right? A lot of stuff. So, yeah … It’s just a lot of stuff that we’ll go over here, but we’re very proud of how this team played,” said an emotional Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason after the Blue Jackets finished their season with a 6-1 win over the New York Islaners on Thursday. A valiant 6-game winning streak brought him within inches of the playoff spot. And through it all—through all the highs and lows—lingered the memory of Johnny Gaudreau, who was taken away too soon.
Evason had tried his best to hold back his tears through the chants of ‘Johnny Hockey’ that reverberated across Nationwide Arena. Until he couldn’t.
Evason wants the ‘Johnny’ chants to continue, and will make sure, in his own way, that No. 13 is never forgotten.
“He will not leave our dressing room as long as I’m here. He will be in there, and he’ll be a presence, and he’ll help us win hockey games, and he’ll hopefully get us to where we want to be, and that’s to win a Stanley Cup,” an emotional Evason was quoted by journalist Nicole Kraft shared on X. The post featured the Johnny Gaudreau jersey hanging in the Blue Jackets locker room. Perfectly placed in his usual spot—in between where Sean Monahan and Sean Kuraly sit.
“He will not leave our dressing room as long as I’m here. He will be in there, and he’ll be a presence, and he’ll help us win hockey games, and he’ll hopefully get us to where we want to be, and that’s to win a Stanley Cup.” #CBJ coach Dean Evason on Johnny Gaudreau. pic.twitter.com/4fonOsxcad
— Nicole Kraft (@Nicole_Kraft) April 18, 2025
“I wasn’t sure, to be honest. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was in Columbus for a while, and I couldn’t bring myself to the rink. It was hard,” Monahan shared with the NY Times, stating how difficult it had been for him to play without his best friend. After all, Monahan perhaps wouldn’t have joined the Blue Jackets had it not been for Gaudreau. “We were looking forward to playing together again, of course. But we were both really excited to raise our kids together,” shared the two-way center. But that was not to be. On August 29 last year, when Monahan was on his way to Columbus with his family to start training camp with the Blue Jackets, he received the call. Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew had lost their lives after being hit by a car while riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.
The tragedy left the Gaudreau family devastated. Yet, they found strength in the memory of the brothers and in how they have been honored by the entire NHL community.
Johnny Gaudreau’s family joins the Blue Jackets’ tribute game
With the Blue Jackets playing their final game against the Islanders, tributes were all over. From the crowd giving standing ovations to the entire arena being filled with blue and red helmet stickers, it was Johnny Hockey chants that were being heard loud and clear! After all, it was his mere presence that everyone believed kept the spirits of the Blue Jackets’ games alive.
And with the video montage getting played during the final TV timeout, it just captured the whole grit and grief the team experienced while quietly celebrating their No. 13’s legacy that brought the Gaudreau family once again to share their emotions and love. And with the Blue Jackets’ official Instagram handle sharing the vibes and clips of the game in a tribute video, it was the Gaudreau wives–Meredith Gaudreau and Madeline Gaudreau—coming forward to show love by resharing similar posts with messages that read—“So much love .” After all, highlighting the bond the family has with the hockey community.
However, with many losses and wins, for the Blue Jackets, it has all been about carrying forward Johnny Gaudreau’s pride and legacy. Because that is where the team found its strength to compete in their matches despite being under the heavy weights of sorrow. And it means more than their stats and standings, right? After all, it wasn’t about the lack of achievement this season that mattered most, but rather, who they played for.
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